Doncaster College for the Deaf Employment Liaison Department Lianne Wood

Our College Built in 1829 as The Yorkshire Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, we have seen many transformations over the years. In 1904 it became the Yorkshire Institute for the Deaf and in 1941 The Yorkshire Residential School for the Deaf. Today, The Doncaster School for the Deaf and Doncaster College for the Deaf run side by side under the umbrella of Doncaster Deaf Trust. We are a residential college and currently have 145 students, 52 of which are day students that live near enough to travel to our campus each day. The remainder are residential at College and stay in one of the lodges on site or live in house shared rented accommodation off site. Built in 1829 as The Yorkshire Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, we have seen many transformations over the years. In 1904 it became the Yorkshire Institute for the Deaf and in 1941 The Yorkshire Residential School for the Deaf. Today, The Doncaster School for the Deaf and Doncaster College for the Deaf run side by side under the umbrella of Doncaster Deaf Trust. We are a residential college and currently have 145 students, 52 of which are day students that live near enough to travel to our campus each day. The remainder are residential at College and stay in one of the lodges on site or live in house shared rented accommodation off site.

Employment Liaison Department 2 full time Employment Liaison Officers and 1 part time Employment Liaison Support Worker. 2 full time Employment Liaison Officers and 1 part time Employment Liaison Support Worker. Deliver job preparation sessions. Deliver job preparation sessions. Complete transitional interviews with students. Complete transitional interviews with students. Attend student annual reviews and department meetings. Attend student annual reviews and department meetings. Maintain links for the Employer Forum. Maintain links for the Employer Forum. Arrange work experience both locally and nationally. Arrange work experience both locally and nationally.

Work experience We have different ways for students to complete work experience: Students may do ½ - 2 day per week placement during term time, with or without support. Students may do ½ - 2 day per week placement during term time, with or without support. Students may complete a 1-4 week block locally to Doncaster during term time or holidays usually without support. Students may complete a 1-4 week block locally to Doncaster during term time or holidays usually without support. Students may return to their home area for a 1- 4 week block during term time or holidays without support. Students may return to their home area for a 1- 4 week block during term time or holidays without support.

“Opportunities to participate in external work placements are very good; many placements are arranged in the learners’ home area” Ofsted inspection report Nov 2007

Why it works – Students Students understand the importance of work experience. Students understand the importance of work experience. Expectations through job preparation sessions. Expectations through job preparation sessions. They are involved in their placement. They are involved in their placement. Tasters for the real world of work. Tasters for the real world of work. Identified appointed contact for work experience available at any time. Identified appointed contact for work experience available at any time. The interview process. The interview process. An opportunity to use the skills they have been taught in the classroom. An opportunity to use the skills they have been taught in the classroom. Having a referee for their CV or the possibility of employment. Having a referee for their CV or the possibility of employment.

Why it works - Employers Thorough information about the individual student from the start. Thorough information about the individual student from the start. One contact person from initial approach, at interview, during monitoring right up to completion. One contact person from initial approach, at interview, during monitoring right up to completion. Flexibility of the work experience placement. Flexibility of the work experience placement. The support from college. The support from college. Thorough H&S, responsibilities & guidance information. Thorough H&S, responsibilities & guidance information. Opportunity to meet the student at interview. Opportunity to meet the student at interview. Increases awareness of disability within their own staff. Increases awareness of disability within their own staff. May lead to them gaining an employee. May lead to them gaining an employee. The students’ patience and flexible approach to communication. The students’ patience and flexible approach to communication.

Why it works - College The work experience is all in one place. The work experience is all in one place. Small close knit team. Small close knit team. The continuous reinforcement from all areas of college for the importance of employment. The continuous reinforcement from all areas of college for the importance of employment. We are part of the college and know our students. We are part of the college and know our students. The excellent links we have built up over the years with our employers both locally and nationally. The excellent links we have built up over the years with our employers both locally and nationally. Our expertise in selling our students skills and the idea of work experience. Our expertise in selling our students skills and the idea of work experience. Monitoring and observing the students. Monitoring and observing the students. The continuous links we keep and sustain with our employers. The continuous links we keep and sustain with our employers.

Feedback During a placement we will ask the employer for monitoring feedback and we regularly contact the student to let us know how they are getting on. The monitoring may be done over the phone or by visiting the employer and student. During a placement we will ask the employer for monitoring feedback and we regularly contact the student to let us know how they are getting on. The monitoring may be done over the phone or by visiting the employer and student. When a student returns to us from a work experience placement, we send out a letter of thanks, report form and attendance card to the employer. This way the employer can feedback on reflection of how they felt the placement went. When a student returns to us from a work experience placement, we send out a letter of thanks, report form and attendance card to the employer. This way the employer can feedback on reflection of how they felt the placement went. We ask the student for their feedback on what they liked and disliked about the placement. We ask the student for their feedback on what they liked and disliked about the placement.

Contact Doncaster College for the Deaf Leger Way Doncaster DN2 6AY Tel: Fax: College open days: 26 th January 2011 Wednesday 2nd March 2011 Wednesday 4th May 2011 Wednesday 5th October 2011.